Legendary melodic hard rock singer Gary John Barden has announced the release of his new studio album, 'Empowered Emotions', on September 18, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.

The album marks 25 years of songwriting and recording collaboration between Barden and German producer Michael Voss, a partnership that began in the band SILVER.

'Empowered Emotions' features a collection of strong, riff-driven tracks rooted in classic hard rock values, with standout songs including 'Hit The Ground Running', 'Maasai Enkai', and the title track 'Empowered Emotions'.

The latter includes guest performance by Deep Purple's Don Airey on keyboards, while 'Dark Water' features a guitar solo by Michael Schenker and expands the album's dramatic scope.

The album was largely written by Barden in collaboration with Voss, with additional contributions from musicians including Tommy Denander, Brian Tichy, Barry Sparks, and Alen Brentini.

The lead single 'Hit The Ground Running' was first shared in July 2026, with its official video now available.

The full track listing includes: Barden's Overture, Maasai Enkai, Hit The Ground Running, Empowered Emotions, Burning Wind, Dark Water, Ride Horsemen Ride, This Phoenix's Gonna Burn Ya, Let The Children Play, The Ruling Class, Walk Away, and We'll Meet Again.

The release celebrates a long-standing creative partnership and reaffirms Barden's enduring presence in the hard rock genre."